For the upcoming dispute, the Newcastle University UCU branch has created a local fund specifically aimed at assisting hourly paid / casual staff and those for whom the loss of income due to strike action would have an immediate and drastic impact on their household budget from losing income due to strike action.
This document sets out the policies and procedures that will be implemented for claiming money from the hardship fund. They make reference to a Marking & Assessment Boycott, which is not currently part of the action short of a strike, but may become so at a later stage of the campaign, subject to member consultation. Further details will be provided if required.
You can find the supporting letter here: Hourly-paid-letter-example.2022-12
To donate to the Hardship Fund:
Unity Trust Bank, UCU Newcastle LA62, Acct: 20391236, SC: 60-83-01
Newcastle UCU Local Hardship Fund: Policies and Procedures
- Anyone claiming from the local hardship fund must be a member of UCU.
- Anyone claiming from the local hardship fund must have taken industrial action.
- Anyone claiming from the local hardship fund must not have claimed from the national fund for the same period (i.e. ‘double claiming’ for the loss of earnings) except for top-up claims from our local fund where member was paid only part of their lost pay by the national fund (see below)
- All payments will be made by BACS. This is a condition of our bank and cannot be changed by the branch – Cash cannot be issued.
- All claims will be assessed by a local hardship fund committee to ensure compliance with national guidelines.
- Please use the national UCU fighting fund if you do not need help urgently – see https://www.ucu.org.uk/fightingfund and https://ucu.custhelp.com/app/fighting_fund/ so that our local hardship fund can prioritise those needing urgent payment.
1. Evidence of loss of earnings
- Evidence for the strike/marking boycott dates should be sent to ucu.office@newcastle.ac.uk. Please also include your bank details payment.
- Hourly-paid student workers (e.g. PGRs) should send :
o A letter signed by a UCU Rep in your School, Department, or Faculty confirming that you did not work on the strike day(s) and showing the hours lost on each strike day OR the days when you took part in a marking boycott and showing marking hours lost by module for each week (please see template letter).
o For staff using the student worker app., a screenshot of your allocated hours should accompany the signed letter.
o Previous payslip to confirm whether you normally pay tax & NI
o Large hourly-paid claims over £500 would also need payslip for month of lost pay to check tax & NI but an earlier part payment can be made. - Hourly-paid part-time staff (e.g. Associate Lecturers whose payslips show “Teaching Fee”) should send :
o A copy of the email sent by HR confirming the days on which you were on strike or taking part in marking boycott.
o A letter signed by a UCU Rep in your School, Department, or Faculty confirming that you did not work on the strike day(s) and showing the hours lost on each strike day OR the days when you took part in a marking boycott and showing marking hours lost by module for each week (please see template letter)
o A copy of your contract, timetable or letter of appointment confirming your monthly pay and your hourly rate (for additional hours).
o Payslip showing deductions
o Previous normal payslip WITHOUT deductions
o For marking boycott, please also state which days and how much you have claimed from national fighting fund.
This is to make sure hardship payments do not exceed net lost pay (after tax & NI) and so that the branch is compliant with all auditing procedures. - Members paid “Monthly Salary” on open ended/fixed-term contracts should send:
o A copy of the email sent by HR confirming the days on which you were on strike or taking part in marking boycott.
o E-mail or letter supporting your claim from rep. in your department (or a rep. who knows you )
o Payslip showing deductions
o Previous normal payslip WITHOUT deductions
o For marking boycott, please also state which days and how much you have claimed from national fighting fund.
This is to make sure hardship payments do not exceed net lost pay (after tax & NI) and so that the branch is compliant with all auditing procedures.
o For top-up strike claims where national have paid less than our daily limit please include the above AND the remittance advice from national showing how much you were paid for the period.
o Top-up claims and normal full claims must be separately claimed.
2. Daily and monthly limits: Strike
For strike days that are NOT part of a marking boycott, claims can be made for up to £75 per day of strike action, to a maximum of £1000 per pay month. For marking boycott claims see below.
3. Hourly paid staff and daily limit
If any day’s lost earnings exceed daily limit, please show other strike days on which you did no paid work for the University, in your rep.’s letter with “No work done” so that we can spread your claim over all strike days.
For hourly-paid staff, all teaching work may be concentrated on fewer days than the strike days and earnings lost may occur on only one or some of the strike days.
For example, if you lose £100 for all classes taught on a day and this is 100% of your anticipated income, this can be spread over all strike days shown in your rep’s letter.
4. Task based work completed outside of the strike
Many staff on hourly paid contracts will have task work allocated over a number of weeks. e.g., marking work may be spread over three weeks, although you might complete it all in a shorter period.
If you have completed tasks that are allocated on your workload, particularly through the app system, you should claim for your hours as normal. It doesn’t matter if the app records that you have completed these tasks during industrial action – the work has been completed outside of the strike and you’re entitled to payment for this work.
If your tasks have been re-allocated (e.g. the module leader is not on strike and chooses to complete the marking themselves), this will fall under lost earnings and is therefore eligible for payment from the local strike fund. We will require a screenshot of your workload allocation from the app, along with a signed letter from a local rep.